Is anemia dangerous

Tagged With: Anemia is a common blood disorder affecting more than 1.6 billion people worldwide. It occurs when the number of healthy red blood cells that carry oxygen through the body drops to an abnormal level, or if the cells don’t contain enough hemoglobin. The majority of the approximately 3.5 million Americans with Those who are most susceptible to anemia are children, females with menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding), and pregnant women. People who suffer chronic diseases like ulcers, or people who have recently undergone surgery, may also become anemic. People with African ancestry are especially susceptible to sickle cell anemia, in which the red blood cells are curved like sickles. Common Anemia Symptoms 1. Breathing Issues, Dizziness, and Headaches When you’re healthy, abundant oxygen is conveyed to the heart, muscles, and organs. With anemia, the lungs overcompensate in order to bring in more oxygen, causing Low levels of hemoglobin prevent adequate oxygen from reaching the brain. Blood vessels swell, blood pressure drops, and it can result in headaches, neurological issues, and vertigo. Small exertions can cause shortness of breath or fainting spells. 2. Chest Pains and Palpitations A rapid heartbeat and palpitations along with feelings of anxiety (due to a deprived sympathetic nervous system) may be connected to a lack of oxygen in the blood. A consistently rapid heart rate is not good for your heart or for the rest of your body. When there’s a low level of...

• Tingling, prickling feelings (also called "pins and needles" or paresthesia) • Muscle weakness • Ataxia: An inability to voluntarily coordinate and control your muscle movements, which can affect eye movement, speech, and swallowing • Digestive tract issues like bloating, nausea, and loss of appetite • An enlarged • Frequent infections • Easily bleeding • Fevers • Tiny, circular red spots on the skin caused by bleeding from small blood vessels ( petechiae) • Nosebleeds • Blood in stool • • Nausea • • Abnormally formed kidneys, heart, lungs, digestive tract, arms, and hands (specific to Fanconi anemia, a form of aplastic anemia) Anemia, especially if it's severe, can strain your heart, weaken your immune system, and lead to other complications. It can cause pregnancy complications or developmental problems in infancy and childhood. When to See a Healthcare Provider If you’ve been diagnosed with anemia and you experience a worsening of symptoms like chest pain, trouble breathing, fast or irregular heartbeat, head to the hospital immediately. If possible, get someone else to drive you. You may be experiencing heart problems, including heart failure. • You’ve already been diagnosed with an underlying condition that can lead to anemia (e.g., kidney disease, • You have a family history of inherited anemia (consider undergoing genetic testing and counseling for it) • You're experiencing a number of anemia symptoms; this could be a sign of a more serious or chronic condition lik...

Mild anemia is common and typically treatable. However, some types of anemia, such as thalassemia and aplastic anemia, are more severe and can be life threatening. Anemia is widespread throughout the world, with approximately Anemia occurs when the blood does not contain enough healthy red blood cells. As red blood cells carry oxygen around the body, anemia means the body does not receive adequate oxygen through the blood. This article looks at whether anemia is life threatening, symptoms of severe types of anemia, and the treatment options available. Share on Pinterest Igor Paszkiewicz/Getty Images The Mild anemia is common and treatable. However, if left untreated, iron-deficiency anemia and other forms of moderate to severe anemia can result in life threatening complications and, in some cases, death. These life threatening complications occur because the organs cannot function properly when they do not receive enough oxygen. Types of anemia that may be life threatening include the following: Severe thalassemia According to the In this blood disorder, the body does not produce enough As red blood cells die more quickly, they are unable to transport oxygen-rich blood throughout the body effectively, resulting in complications and, in some severe cases, death. Heart failure and irregular heart rhythm are the Aplastic anemia The In severe cases, aplastic anemia can lead to complications such as heart failure, Hemolytic anemia The body typically destroys old red blood cells...

Low iron levels often indicate iron deficiency anemia. If, during a routine blood test, your doctor discovers that your hemoglobin levels are under 13.5 g/dL for men or under 12 g/dL for women, he may want to treat you for anemia. A hemoglobin level of 5 is very low; therefore, it's important to see you doctor to determine how to best treat your condition. The cause of anemia often stems from loss of blood somewhere in the body. Women of childbearing age who have heavy menstrual periods may become anemic, for example. If you have a stomach ulcer -- or if you take non-steroidal inflammatory drugs -- you may lose blood through your stomach or intestines. Another cause of anemia is eating a diet that is low in iron. Because pregnant and breastfeeding women have increased iron needs, they may become anemic if they do not take an iron supplement. Most of the time, anemia itself is not dangerous. If your anemia is allowed to remain untreated; however, your heart may work too hard to pump enough oxygen-rich through your body. This can cause heart failure in severe cases. Anemia can also be a side effect of certain cancers, especially gastrointestinal cancers that cause internal bleeding. If you have unexplained low iron levels, your doctor should run tests to figure out what is causing the problem. If you have low iron levels, you should eat foods that are rich in iron. Good sources of iron include lean beef, liver, oysters, iron-fortified cereals, fatty fish, whole grains and dr...

Having too much or not enough iron in your body can cause health issues, including raising your risk of infection. Taking too much iron can cause toxicity and organ damage. Iron is an essential mineral. However, like many other nutrients, it is harmful in high amounts. In fact, iron is so toxic that its absorption from the digestive tract is tightly controlled. For the most part, this minimizes the harmful effects of excess iron. It is when these safety mechanisms fail that health issues arise. This article discusses the potentially harmful effects of consuming too much iron. Iron is an essential dietary mineral, mostly used by red blood cells. It is a crucial part of hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells. Hemoglobin is responsible for delivering oxygen to all of the body’s cells. There are two types of dietary iron: • Heme iron: This type of iron is only found in animal foods, mostly in • Non-heme iron: Most dietary iron is in the non-heme form. It is found in both animals and plants. Its absorption can be enhanced with organic acids, such as vitamin C, but is decreased by plant compounds like People who get little or no heme iron in their diet are at an increased risk of iron deficiency ( Many people are iron deficient, especially women. In fact, iron deficiency is the world’s most common mineral deficiency ( Summary: Iron is an essential dietary mineral that plays an important role in transporting oxygen throughout the body. Iron deficiency is common among wome...

Overview Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia — a condition in which blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's tissues. As the name implies, iron deficiency anemia is due to insufficient iron. Without enough iron, your body can't produce enough of a substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen (hemoglobin). As a result, iron deficiency anemia may leave you tired and short of breath. Symptoms Initially, iron deficiency anemia can be so mild that it goes unnoticed. But as the body becomes more deficient in iron and anemia worsens, the signs and symptoms intensify. Iron deficiency anemia signs and symptoms may include: • Extreme fatigue • Weakness • Pale skin • Chest pain, fast heartbeat or shortness of breath • Headache, dizziness or lightheadedness • Cold hands and feet • Inflammation or soreness of your tongue • Brittle nails • Unusual cravings for non-nutritive substances, such as ice, dirt or starch • Poor appetite, especially in infants and children with iron deficiency anemia When to see a doctor If you or your child develops signs and symptoms that suggest iron deficiency anemia, see your doctor. Iron deficiency anemia isn't something to self-diagnose or treat. So see your doctor for a diagnosis rather than taking iron supplements on your own. Overloading the body with iron can be dangerous because excess iron accumulation can damage your liver and cause other complications. Causes Iron defi...

Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in red blood cells. It enables the blood to carry oxygen to tissues throughout the body. Low hemoglobin levels often indicate anemia, but high levels can also be a sign of a serious health condition. When someone has insufficient red blood cells or the ones they have do not work properly, the body does not have enough of the oxygen it needs to function. This condition is Read on to learn more about how hemoglobin levels can affect people, including symptoms, treatment, and outlook for someone with low hemoglobin in their body. Share on Pinterest Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. Each hemoglobin protein Hemoglobin How are hemoglobin levels tested? A blood test can assess hemoglobin levels. This is called a hemoglobin test. Doctors may take a blood sample from the person and send it to a laboratory for testing. Doctors may measure hemoglobin levels as part of a complete blood count (CBC) test. A low level of hemoglobin in the blood means there is also a low level of oxygen. This can result in a condition called anemia. Tests usually express hemoglobin, or Hb, in In the United States, doctors The results of a hemoglobin test will indicate if a person’s hemoglobin levels are within the normal reference range. Different labs have slightly different guidelines, but in general, normal hemoglobin levels are as • 13.5 to 18.0 g/dL in males • 12.0 to 15.0 g/dL in non-pregnant females • 11.0 to 16.0 ...

If you have Possible Causes of Anemia Usually, it happens because you don’t have enough red blood cells. That can make you more likely to get certain diabetes complications, like eye and nerve damage. And it can worsen kidney, heart, and artery disease, which are more common in people with diabetes. Diabetes often leads to kidney damage, and failing kidneys can cause anemia. Healthy kidneys know when your body needs new red blood cells. They release a hormone called erythropoietin (EPO), which signals your bone marrow to make more. Damaged kidneys don’t send out enough EPO to keep up with your needs. Often, people don’t realize they have People with diabetes are more likely to have inflamed blood vessels. This can keep bone marrow from getting the signal they need to make more red blood cells. And some medications used to treat diabetes can drop your levels of the protein hemoglobin, which you need to carry oxygen through your blood. These drugs include If you have Symptoms of Anemia When your brain and other organs don’t get enough oxygen, you feel tired and weak. Other signs you may have anemia include: • Shortness of breath • • • Pale skin • • Cold hands and feet • Low body temperature • Rapid heartbeat Tests for Anemia A complete blood count gives your doctor a good picture of what’s going on in your blood. It counts your red and white blood cells and platelets, and it checks whether the red blood cells are a normal size. It also checks the levels of hemoglobin in your...